|
Male Menopause
Menopause for men, you might ask? Unfortunately, yes! Andropause
– the male menopause - is more gradual than that experienced
by women, but it is just as real. It often starts as early as age
35. Because it is so gradual, men often reach their mid-forties
before they are even noticing some of the signs and symptoms.
Andropause, like menopause, is caused by a decline in hormones.
(Primarily testosterone and the secondarily growth hormone, along
with DHEA) On the average, a man’s testosterone level begins
to decline at a rate of 1% per year after age 40. It is estimated
that 20% of men aged 60 to 80 years have levels below the lower
limit of normal. The diagnosis of low testosterone levels is based
on the presence of signs or symptoms and must be confirmed by laboratory
testing. The extent to which declining hormone levels cause men
to age is dependent on lifestyle issues of diet, exercise and stress.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy is only recommended for men whose
testosterone levels are low. Your physician prior to the initiation
of treatment should perform screening for parameters related to
potential risks of androgen therapy. Once your physician has approved
testosterone therapy and a written prescription for testosterone
has been received, Martin Avenue Pharmacy’s compounding pharmacists
can use Testosterone USP to compound numerous dosage forms. These
dosage forms include transdermal (topical), sublingual, or intramuscularly.
Variety
of Signs and Symptoms:
| • |
Weakness |
| • |
Reduced Libido |
| • |
Atherosclerosis |
| • |
Erectile Dysfunction |
| • |
Low Sperm Counts |
| • |
Reduced Muscle Mass |
| • |
Reduced Cognitive Function |
|
|
| • |
Fatigue |
| • |
Osteoporosis |
| • |
Irritability |
| • |
Slow Wound Healing |
| • |
Depression |
| • |
Memory impairment |
|
|
| • |
Disturbed Sleep |
| • |
Heart Disease |
| • |
Insomnia |
| • |
Prostate Problems |
| • |
Anxiety |
| • |
Impaired Blood Cell Formation |
|
In most cases there is a simple, effective and painless
treatment. It is called hormone replacement therapy. To learn more
about this topic please stop by our pharmacy to pick up free information
or call 630-355-6400 to schedule a private consultation with our
head pharmacist, Thomas Marks.
Back to Top
Prevention
A healthy lifestyle has been shown to be associated
with higher hormone levels, and higher hormone levels seem to induce
a more active, healthier lifestyle. When hormone levels decline,
a person becomes less active and gain weight. As this weight gain
occurs, hormones are stored in the fat and become unavailable to
meet the body’s demands. Also, a lack of exercise, excessive
alcohol use and many diseases can reduce bio-available hormone levels.
For optimal results, it is vital that hormone replacement therapy
be combined with exercise, proper nutrition and appropriate use
of natural supplements.
Goals
of Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Adult Men (50 yrs or older)
| • |
Improvement in psychological well-being and mood |
| • |
Improvement in erectile dysfunction |
| • |
Improvement in libido |
| • |
Increased muscle mass |
| • |
Increased strength and stature |
| • |
Preservation of bone mass |
| • |
Decrease in Cardiovascular risk |
Testosterone replacement can also improve osteoporosis,
cardiovascular disease and depression.
Back to Top
|
